Ogoni Youths Demand UNEP Report Implementation

 The National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) has urged for the urgent implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on the clean up of Ogoni land.

In a communiqué at the end of an emergency meeting in Bori recently, the council also urged the Federal Government to train Ogoni youths in oil spill clean up and response techniques with a view to preparing them for remediation exercise of all impacted sites in Ogoniland.

The communiqué regretted the lukewarm attitude of the Federal Government towards the implementation of the report, also warned the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) against embarking on illegal activities in Ogoniland.

According to the communiqué signed by the National Leader/Chairman of the council, Mr Barry. B. Nwara also demanded to know the effort of SPDC in the implementation of the UNEP report.

The youth council also urged for the engagement of Ogoni youths in security issues and pipeline surveillance, while also restating its readiness to partner with the government to curb pipeline vandalism, oil theft and other act of economic sabotage within the Ogoni Local Government Areas.

The group also condemned the deplorable state of the East/West Road and urged the Federal Government to take urgent steps to stop the hardship being experienced by the people.